MUNRO'S HALL, KUROW
A FAREWELL SOCIAL to Privates F. O'Neil, G. McAughtrie, W. Sutherland, and J. Condon will be held on THURSDAY EVENING, 14th September.
All Returned Soldiers and their immediate relatives cordially invited.
Gents, 1s; Ladies a basket.
For the Kurow Patriotic Fare-welling Committee.
J. V. SHERRIS, Hon. Sec. -Oamaru Mail, 12/9/1916.
KUROW NOTES.
PATRIOTIC FAREWELLLNG SOCIETY.
(From Our Own Correspondent). There was a large gathering of people in Munro's Hall, Kurow on Thursday last to give a send-off to Privates Sutherland, O'Neil, Condon, and McCoughtry, who were home on final leave. A splendid programme was presented the proceedings being opened by an overture by Mr and Mrs McTaggart. Songs were given by Mr McGregor, Mr Denem Mr Waugh and Mr Cudmore, and a well rendered glee by the glee party, consisting of Mrs McTaggart, Misses Smart, Condon and McGregor, Mr Waugh, and Mr McGregor. These items were all much appreciated. Mr Waler, of Hakataramea, gave a violin solo with much feeling and expression.
Between the various vocal items a dance was interposed, and before the supper, the chairman, Rev. H. Sholto Bishop, in a short, speech, after apologising for the absence of Mr T. A. Munro, and the Rev. T. Neave, presented each of the men with a luminous-faced wristlet watch, suitably engraved.
A bountiful supper was handed round, and dancing resumed and kept up until a late hour. Mrs McGregor and Mrs McTaggart were the accompaniments, and Miss Munro and Messrs Richardson (Otiake), and O'Grady provided the dance music. The catering section was carried out admirably by the ladies, special thanks being due to Mesdames Munro, Condon, Bishop, Reardon, Murray and Misses Neave, Munro and Reardon.
All arrangements were admirably carried out by the committee under the indefatigable secretary, Mr J. Shines. The men left to return to camp on Saturday morning. -North Otago Times, 20/9/1916.
Trooper J. Condon, son of Mr J. Condon, of Kurow, who enlisted at was wounded in the face during the recent big offensive, and has been admitted to the base hospital in France. -Lyttelton Times, 10/8/1917.
John Condon was with the 7th (Wellington-West Coast) Company of the Wellington Infantry Regiment when he was seriously wounded on July 31, 1917.
The 2nd Battalion stormed and captured La Basse Ville on two occasions. On the 27th July, Hawkes Bay Company had little difficulty in taking the village, but the Germans, a few hours afterwards, counter-attacked in comparatively great strength, and drove out the posts left by us as a garrison. On the 31st July, Wellington-West Coast Company, with two platoons of Taranaki Company, again seized the place, and this time all the attackers remained and held it against the counter-attacks that followed. This operation was made conjointly with Ruahine Company, clearing the hedge row system on our left between our posts and the railway line. -Official History of the Wellington Infantry Regiment.
KUROW NOTES
A June 20th a welcome home social was tendered to Private J. J. Condon. Private Condon was away about two years, and while serving in France was severely wounded, and as a consequence lost a leg. In an appropriate speech, Mr R. H. Appleby welcomed the guest of the evening, saying that he was sorry that Mr Condon had come home maimed, but the public would stand by their young men and see that provision was made for them. Having been maimed in fighting for the Empire, they deserved every consideration. During the evening musical items were contributed by Misses Payne and Norman, and Messrs Coop, Neave, Wotherspoon, and Harstonge, and an exhibition of club swinging was given by Mr Hyland. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Mcgregor and Miss Smith, and supper was provided by the ladies. -Oamaru Mail, 1/7/1918.
ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS.
RETURNED SOLDIER’ S DEAT H
OAMARU. Sept. 13. John Joseph Condon, single 20, was found in his room at his parents' residence at Kurow on Wednesday, with a bullet wound in the forehead, and he died a few hours after. At the inquest a verdict was returned that death was due to a gunshot wound in the forehead accidentally received. Deceased was a returned soldier. He lost one leg and sustained serious injury to the other at the war. -Gisborne Times, 14/9/1923.
Our Manaia correspondent states that much sympathy was expressed at Manaia when the very sad news was received, from Kurow, South Island of the death of John Joseph Condon, who accidentally shot himself last Thursday week, September 13. The deceased was a most popular young man. He was very well known in Manaia and district. He spent most of his schooldays at the convent and was a general favourite, both with teachers and schoolmates. He was of a very kindly and affectionate disposition, and made many friends both in the town and district. At the age of 18 years he enlisted from Hawera and served in the late Great War, and at Messines had the misfortune to lose a leg and the other was also badly damaged with shrapnel. Private J. Franklin of Hawera who was a mate of deceased, also had the misfortune to lose one leg at the same engagement. Since coming back from the war he was in business in Kurow, in which he was very successful. He was well esteemed by all the citizens of Kurow and was a general favourite. He was given a military funeral, the Oamaru Times stating that, notwithstanding the inclement weather on Saturday, one of the largest and most representative assemblies gathered to pay their last tributes of respect to Private J. Condon who was accorded a military funeral. A party of returned soldiers, some twenty in number, were under the charge of Lieutenant Neare, six of the party being the pallbearers. The cortege was conveyed from the church to the cemetery upon an army waggon in charge of Driver Ron Munro. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. Father Fenelon, of Oamaru. Kurow returned soldiers comprised the firing party. Three volleys were fired and Bugler D Park sounded the Last Post. Deceased was a nephew of Mrs D. Bashford, of Kaupokonui, and Mr E. J. Massey, of Manaia. The citizens of Manaia and district extend to the father and sisters of deceased their deepest sympathy in their very sad bereavement. -Hawera & Normanby Star, 22/9/1923.
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